This carefully documented book addresses the effects of secrecy about nuclear issues on American society and government during the Cold War, and provides a history of weapons development and testing during that period. The author argues that American democracy has paid a high price for the “secret empire” of nuclear weapons that started to emerge during the development of the atomic bomb. He suggests that the secrecy surrounding nuclear activities in the United States may be responsible for the increase in the number of spies and the handling of national security matters by experts, both of which are contrary to the valued democratic process. The author’s purpose is to educate the public about the history of nuclear weapons programs in the United States following World War II. The detailed account covers the physics of nuclear weapons, advances in technology, specific programs, weapons types, and arming and fuzing techniques. It includes copious photographs, diagrams and tables of weapons, missiles, aircraft, and test explosions. The author draws upon publicly available information: declassified United States government documents, transcripts of Senate and House Armed Services Committees, court documents, and articles.